To improve health literacy in the population, the Austrian Health Literacy Alliance focuses on five key areas: high-quality health information, high-quality communication in healthcare, health-literate organizations, patient and citizen empowerment and measuring health literacy. In designated working groups tools, activities and strategies are developed.
High-quality health information
Good-quality, understandable health information in written texts and audio-visual media is a precondition for health literacy. Building on an Austrian adaption of the German standard for good health information, the working group of this focus area developed the manual "Good Health Information Austria". The 15 quality criteria for evidence-based and gender-sensitive health information address
four main topics:
- Selection of relevant scientific sources and data to guarantee evidence-based information
- Provision of undistorted, clear information in words and pictures
- Adequately addressing, and involving, target groups
- Provision of transparent and neutral information, non-biased for users
Linklist
The "Linklist" provides a curated list of quality-assured health information websites. These resources are scientifically based, free of commercial interests, and freely accessible. The list is continuously updated with new recommended providers.
High-quality communication in healthcare
The scientific literature has demonstrated that communication between health professionals and patients is extremely relevant for healthcare outcomes. Good communication demonstrates positive effects on the patients’ state of health and their health related behaviour, patient satisfaction and patient safety. For healthcare professionals, effective communication skills can enhance job satisfaction and reduce stress. The vast body of evidence also shows that skills for communicating with patients can be taught and learned.
Based on a strategy, developed in collaboration with multiple stakeholders of the Austrian healthcare system, the implementation of a communication training program started by forming an evidence-based quality standard for communication skills training. In collaboration with tEACH and a train the trainer approach is used to build a network of communication skills trainers that are delivering more and more trainings to healthcare professionals. For further information please refer to our subpage and watch one of our webinars that discuss the program in more detail.
Metrics
To date, the network encompasses 61 trainers who have trained more than 8.000 healthcare professionals in 90 organizations across numerous healthcare settings.
Health-literate organizations
Since people spend a significant amount of their time in organizations and various settings, these environments offer valuable opportunities to reach individuals in their natural surroundings and positively impact their health and health literacy.
A variety of tools are available to suppport the implementation of health literacy in organizations. To support organizations the working group developed a so called starter-kit consisting of a manual and self-assessment tools.
Health literate open youth work centres
In Austria, standards for health literate open youth work centres were developed, along with an accreditation programme. The accreditation process includes a self-assessment of the standards and an audit. Open youth work centres from all over Austria can apply to get certified on one of three levels: bronze, silver and gold. The certificate is valid for three years. Certified centres are members of the Alliance.
Patient and citizen empowerment
Patient empowerment and citizen engagement are important components of health literacy. Empowered patients have the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their healh care and are better equipped to manage chronic disease and follow treatment plans more effectively. In general, engaging citizens in health initiatives can lead to more effective public health strategies and policies. Patients, citizens, and communities can also provide valuable feedback to health organizations, helping to improve services and communication.
Austrian adaption of Ask Me 3®
Ask Me 3® is an educational programme that encourages patients and families to ask three specific questions of their providers to better understand their health conditions and what they need to do to stay healthy. Posters were produced and provided to healthcare practices to be placed in the waiting area.
Measuring health literacy
For the planning and evaluation of health policies and the development of intervention strategies to promote health literacy, reliable data are needed to assess the development of health literacy at the population level and for subgroups of the population
For monitoring purposes and to support the introduction and continuous development of strategies and interventions to improve health literacy on a national level, Austria participated in the international Health Literacy Survey (HLS19), a project of the WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M‐POHL). Following the results of the first Austrian Health Literacy Survey in 2011, which showed a clear need for action, there have been numerous positive developments in Austria over the last 10 years. Currently, the next population health literacy survey in 2025 is prepared.
M-POHL
The vision of M-POHL (The WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy) is to enhance health literacy in the WHO European Region by ensuring the availability of high-quality and internationally comparative data to support evidence-based political decisions and targeted practice interventions. Austria is one of the network’s member countries and the elected International Coordination Centre (ICC).
